Frame.



Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

L. B. STBTSON.

FRAME.l

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 2o. 1909.

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FRAME.

aaneen Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3d, i909.

Application lerlFebrnary 20, 1909. Serial No. 479,234.

To all whom it may concern: y a

Be it known that l, LLEWELLYN B. S'rnrsoN, a citizen of the `United States, and a resident ofBellevue, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a new and improved Frame, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to frames, and more particularly to adjustable frames, such as are adapted to be used in thecultivation of plants, such as tomato vines or the like, and which vconsist of uprights adapted to be driven into' the ground, and having arms pivotally secured thereto, means for holding the arms extended, and supports removably arranged on the arms of the uprights.

. The object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, which will support the branches of a plant, thus obviating the danger of their becoming broken. through the Weight of the fruit which they carry.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part of this specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view showing an embodiment of my invention being used to support the branches of a tomato vine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the uprights, showing, in dotted outline, the arms in a partially folded position; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the end of one of the arms. I

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of my invention, it should be 1inderstood that in the cultivation of such plants as tomato vines or the like, when the fruit begins to grow in size, the weight of it tends to cause the branches of the vine to break ofi near the stalk. Several methods have been employed to overcome this diiiiculty, such as tying the vine by means of string to uprights, or by using wire sup- 'lhc former method requires a great deal of time and labor, while in the second, the wires are apt to injure the branches of the vine. l

My device consists of a wooden frame which, when not in use, can easily be folded and stored away.

In general, this device consists of uprights having adjustable arms pivotally secured thereto, means for holding the arms extended, and removable supports connecting the arms of adjacent uprights.

In the cultivation of tomato vines, th branches of the latter rest upon the supports and thus, when the tomatoes become large, their weight will not cause the branches to break away from the stalks.

In the specific form shown in the drawings, 1 represents an upright, having its lower end 2 suitably tapered so that it may be easily driven into the ground. Located on the upright 1 are a plurality of openings 3 at any one of which arms l can be removably secured by means of a pivot'pin 5, which extends through the opnin The arms 4 are provided with a plurality of studs 6, which serve to carry supports 7, the latter connecting the arms of adjacent supports, as shown most clearly in Fig.`l. lt desired, the support which is at the extremity of each arm may be firmly secured in place. Links 8 extend from thetop of the upright to the endsv of the arms, and are pivotally connected thereto. Each link is composed of two members pivotally secured to one another, so that the arms may be easily folded -A on the upright, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. The openings 3 in the uprights allow the arms to be adjusted at any desired distance from the ground.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and` desire to secure bv Letters Patent l. A device of the class described, comprising a plurality of uprights adapted to be driven into the ground, each upright having arms pivotally and adj ustably secured thereto, means for holding said arms extended, and further means for supporting the branches of a vine.

2. A device of the class described, comprising uprights, arms pivotall and adjustably secured to said uprights, exible means for holding said arms extended, each arm having a plurality of studs arranged thereon, and supports connecting the arms of adjacent uprlghts, said supports being held in place by means of said studs.

3. A device of the class described, com prising an upright having a longitudinal series o openings, a plurality of arms, each provided with an opening adapted to regisl ter with the opening of the other arm and with one of the openings of the series, alpin a jointed 1 for traversin the registerin openings, and a jointed 1in connecting the free end of each arm with the top of the standard.

4. A device of the class described, comprisingan upright having a. lon 'tudinal series o openings, a plura ity o arms, each provided with an' opening adapted to register with the opening of the other arm and with one of the openings of the series, a. pin for traversin the registerin openings, and

ini connectingt e free end of each arm with the top of the standard, said arms being provided at spaced intervals on their upper edges with studs for the purpose set forth.

In `testimony whereof Ivhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LLEWELLYN BARLOW SVTETSON.

Witnesses:

GEQBGE'H. STETso'N, GERTRUDE A. IVEY. 

